Emerson Process Management and Siemens Automation and Drives announced on 11 July 2006 that both companies are trading technology know-how and providing each other with engineering support
Siemens will be adding interfaces to its Simatic PCS 7 process control system and Process Device Manager (PDM) tool to support Foundation Fieldbus (FF) standards in addition to the Profibus and Hart standards they support today.
Emerson will be similarly expanding its Delta V and Ovation control systems as well as its AMS Suite with an interface for Profibus DP and Profinet in addition to the Foundation Fieldbus and Hart standards.
Profibus International says it welcomes the partnership of these two global players in automation.
This development is especially important for Profinet and Profibus, particularly in view of the global process automation market in which the American company Emerson plays an outstanding role, as it provides an ideal starting point for further disseminating the open technologies Profibus and Profinet.
Integration of Profinet and Profibus in the Emerson Delta V and Ovation process control systems will contribute to further consolidating the already strong position of Profibus and Profinet in process automation.
In addition, collaboration between the two companies will serve to speed up the use of open technologies, expand the compatibility of automation products and thus provide the customer with greater functionality.
It will also give Profibus and Profinet an ideal opportunity to demonstrate their greatest asset, namely implementation in both continuous and discrete automation processes, while benefiting the customer.
Ralf-Michael Franke, head of the industrial automation systems division at Siemens A+D, comments: "In addition to the announced integration of FF H1 in the PCS 7 process control system and the PDM parameterization tool, Siemens will continue its intensive support of Profibus PA.
"It's especially in hybrid applications that the availability of Profibus DP and PA offers a decisive competitive advantage which neither we nor our customers want to miss out on".
Profibus International will continue to develop the established technologies under one roof.
For Profinet, work will continue on the communication-specific requirements of process automation within the newly-founded 'DCS Requirements' working group and the findings will influence the Profinet specifications.
The Profibus International member companies will continue to consolidate the market position of Profibus PA above all in connection with Profinet.
